Sad.

**Update: Lydia was released from the hospital last night, late. She has a few broken ribs, a bruised lung and I am sure a broken heart.


There has been a tragedy in my family tonight.



My cousin, Mary, was killed in a car accident and her sister, Lydia, has been sent by life flight to the hospital.

Mary was so young. Lydia is young. There are no words for how I feel right now.

Please pray for:

Lydia, as she processes what has happened.

Anna, the youngest sister to have understanding.

David, their father, to find peace, understanding and strength.

Karen, their mother, to find peace, understanding and strength.

My whole family, as we try and process this tragedy.

I know that God has a purpose and a plan for each and every life on this earth. I know that. But in a time like this it is so hard to see through the tears, to understand that this loss on earth is Heaven's gain. Hard.

Tonight, I held my babies tight as I was reminded that they are only on loan to me by my Heavenly Father. That, no matter what, they are a part of God's plan.

Right now, my plan is to make for sure that they know I love them and give them everything I have...

Silly boy!

Mason just said, "mom, when I grow up I will be too big to eat lots of candy! Mason is happy to be a little boy!"

He gets funnier every single day! It is a good thing I am smart and I don't fall for his little stunts! ; )


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Merry Christmas

From our family to yours...

Merry Christmas

2009

Do Tell....

What makes you feel "Sassy"?

Do you drink coffee with your girlfriends?




Do you wear perfume?





Do you put on your favorite jeans?





Do you carry your favorite purse?

Please do tell... I am giving a way this little beauty.

I have one just like it, and I wear it to remind myself when to Sass-up!

Go HERE and leave me a comment on how you "keep it Sassy", that is all you have to do!

***If you do not have a blogger account, no worries, leave me an anonymous comment with your name and e-mail address so I can contact you if you are the winner!

Christmas Orders, Part I....

The reason for all of this sporadic blogging is all of my Christmas orders... I have been busy, but it has been a blessing.

If you are looking and do not see your jewelry, do not worry, it is done and it all shipped today... YIPPE! I am just behind on posting.


This is just a show off post, I am in the process of combining KIKI & LELE blog and this blog to make things simpler... Also, I am re-naming from KIKI & LELE to
LP Designs. I know it is not super creative, but I wanted something that would cover all of the stuff I like to make.

The ETSY shop will also get re-done as well... Trying to get bids on all of this fun stuff from fellow ETSY-iers. If you know anyone who does logo design, please send them my way...

I had a hard time getting good pictures, it was a nasty rainy day yesterday... Go figure, the sun is out today and everything is already packed and shipped.... Oh well.

I love this one, it has an aged look to it and it is just perfect. I have one that says, "I love you like crazy glue." I always say that to Mason, I am not sure where crazy glue came from, maybe because it rhymes?

I love this one, I wear it on my "sassy" days.... As a SAHM, I need a little reminder sometimes between diapers and bum wiping and nap times that I still have a little Sass!

How do you remember to stay sassy?

* Let me know and you might be the winner of one just like this....

Sweet, Smooshy Boy

No words, just Miles.

The Big O

I got your attention, huh?

Organization

Since we have moved, my life has seemed turned upside down. The one thing that I normally can control is my crafting space. Well, when we moved I pretty much just threw it all in boxes hoping to get it organized after we settled. I am just now getting around to it.

I am a HUGE fan of ribbon. I just love it so much. I am not sure why I love it really, I have no girls, but I do. So, sometimes I splurge, telling myself that it is for this or for that, but normally I make one thing and then it just sits in a box in my crafting space.

I have altered an idea I saw a while ago {on a blog I cannot remember- if I do, I will post it} about how to organize your ribbon. The original idea was to use clothes pins that do not have hinges and tie a know in the ribbon... I am lazy, so I bought the ones with hinges, no knots, just wrap and VIOLA!

Just clip the ribbon and start to wrap and I use a straight pin when done... If you want more kid friendly, you can use tape to fasten it.

And there you have it, no more crazy piles of spools of ribbon.
* of course I have waaay more ribbon than this, so I have to buy another jar...

This Guy....

has....

my.....

heart...

O Christmas Tree....

Our tree 2009

I changed the balls this year to Red, white and apple green- oh and they are plastic....
Mason made me a "ginger man" at school. He told me, " don't lick it Mom, it tastes like ewwww."

Mason's beautiful angel that now sits on his Grans desk at work, he thought she should have it.

We have a lot of police ornaments, they are our favorite.

If you look closely, we store our Christmas cards on the tree... I keep all of them each year, especially the ones with pictures...

2009 Christmas tree, in all of its glory...

Fat

Curt and I went shopping for Christmas.



A store was entered that starts with an "A".



As we entered there was a young lady- maybe 18, maybe-standing at the front of the store greeting people.



We had the stroller loaded down and Miles was in his sling.



The store was narrow.



The ...sweet... young lady told us about the special deals the store was having for today.



I mumbled to Curt something about thinking our stroller would not fit through the store because it was so crowded.



She was eaves dropping and misunderstood me and said, and I quote....



"Oh no Ma'am there are people much larger than you that shop in here...."

I wanted to look at her and speak in her laungage and say, "OMG ur kdng right? LOL!" Then, I wanted to slap her Mamma for not teaching her any better.


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Go Away...

Both of the boys have been sick on and off for about 2 weeks. Ear infections and upper respitory infections have plauged my sweet boys. Mason was back at the doctor this morning with another ear infection. This was his 4th in this year. He was placed on a stronger antibiotic and if it does not clear it up he will be sent to an Ear, Nose & Throat specialist to see about tubes in his ears. Hopefully it will not get to that. He also had his H1N1 flu mist and I must say it was super easy and way better than a shot.

We are just going to focus on getting better....


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Giving. That is what it is all about...

Have you ever been in the line at a store and the cashier asks you, "Would you like to give a dollar to help St. Jude Children's Hospital?" I always say yes. I always have chills. I always give more. I have healthy children, I am so grateful for that. I am so grateful that my days are not spent watching my sick child getting poked and prodded and going through the worst imaginable tests. I hope having to go to a hospital like St. Jude never becomes a reality for my children, I pray that their lives are always blessed with good health.

Because my children are healthy, I have decided that I will "give thanks" for them. My parents always set an amount on what they want to spend on us for Christmas, we have a budget. I will admit, there are so many things I want- as always. But, not one thing I need. I decided after spending half of my Christmas budget that I would give the other half to St. Jude Children's Hospital.

At St. Jude, NO child is ever turned away because of their parents inability to pay for there care. That is so amazing!!!! If you have a bit extra left in your holiday budget this year, give some of it. It does not have to be to St. Jude, it could be to any non-profit organization. It will make you feel so amazing inside. I promise.

My gift is giving 2 platelet count tests. I know it may not seem like a HUGE gift, but to me it is.

Revelation of the Day

And I quote.....
"I need some coke Mom, coke will make me BIG and STRONG, just like Iron Man...". Mason Phillips, 3yrs




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H1N1 Blues

I had my h1n1 shot on Friday and I feel terrible! My muscles ache all over and I baiscally feel like death warmed over.....


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Untitled

No title on this one, just an update.

Both boys have been sick with upper respiratory infections and ear infections. They are starting to come around now and starting to feel better. Miles is taking a bit longer to heal...



I had my H1N1 today. Not too bad, I got the shot. I am not a huge fan of stuff up my nose. My arm itches a bit, but it was no big deal. Getting Mason's will be the bigger deal. I am not a huge fan of this shot because it has only been out for this year, but I would much rather give it to Mason and get it myself than see Mason or Miles get sick with this. When you see where kids in your community close to your own kids ages are dying from H1N1, it makes you really want to get your kids the shot- at least it does me...



Curt has been working his new job for a whole week now. He has mostly been training. I feel like I have hardly seen him. He is gone all day and then studies after we eat dinner. I know this whole training thing will not last too long, so it is totally tolerable. Mason loves seeing his Daddy in his police uniform.



Mason said, "Mason gonna get big and be a hero like my Dad..." Priceless, I say, priceless.



But he also said he wanted to get a new Mommy, so I guess you gotta take the bad with the good.... : )



Mason is constantly helping with Miles and he says they are "best friends" I hope that lasts. He really seems to love him- at least he does when Miles is not crying...



Miles is growing like a weed. He has nice round cheeks and people are constantly telling me he looks way older than 13 weeks. I think he looks like a little snow man... Cute as can be, I give him 10 million kisses a day. He also got a mobile from his Mammie and he loves it a ton. He sat last night under it for 30 minutes talking and cooing and trying to reach and grab it.



I am {hopefully} going to put my tree up tonight- slacker, I know...



I have been working on jewelry Christmas orders that are slamming me. So, that is my excuse for all of my short falls: unfolded laundry, boxes still in my closet, dishes need to be washed, Mason's room is a disaster...



I also got an embroidery machine. I have read the manual like 2 times but I still have not managed to crank anything out yet. Maybe that will happen soon.






What is a post without a picture. Please forget that you can see all the way up my nose.... I just wanted to show off my Hunk-o-ramma husband... You are jealous, I know...

Family Holiday Time 2009

Me and my beautiful sister, Katie. Baby Liam is keeping warm in her tummy for the time being.



This is my Granny Swan, she is my mom's mom. Isn't she beautiful? I cannot remember the last time we had a picture together.



What else can I say- he is adorable and he is all ours.



My brother and Curt went hunting, a Mommy deer was killed, I can't say much more than that it makes me sad.



My Dad and Miles catching a nap... Aren't they lucky?

I managed to get a picture of everyone but my Mom..... Sorry Mom, maybe next time.

We had a great holiday and enjoyed some great food.

Thankful

We ran into these guys on Thanksgiving morning on our way to my parents house. They were hanging out in the Hardees parking lot.

Room With A View

Every single day I wake up to this... Every single day it is a little bit different. Today it was so majestic that I had to grab the camera. So at 5:15am I was on the balcony freezing my booty off trying to catch the perfect shot.

Pretty amazing, don't you agree?

Using the bathroom and such

Will I ever use the bathroom in privacy again?

What is the facination with a Mommy who just wants to do her business in peace?


I literally used the bathroom today with this guy hanging in his sling...


And this guy... Forget about it.... It is like he sences when I have to go and he just starts following me all over the house. Heaven forbid that I shut the door.

At least Miles just wants to be touching me. Mason can talk and ask questions... I will let you use your immagination.... I am sure if you are a Mom you will not have to get too creative.


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Blah blah blah

I really have no excuse for my lack of blogging lately. We are all settled in, Miles is an amazing baby, Mason is only as wild as a normal 3 year old and Curt still has not started work yet.
We live in an amazing place really. I love it here, way more than I thought I would. We live way out of town, so it takes forever to get anywhere- but I do not mind really. I saw a bald eagle fly across the lake two days in a row. There is a blue herron that visits us almost every day. There is a big fat beaver that swims by on occasion. And to top it all off, about 250 ducks have been hanging out around our dock for the past few days. The scenery is amazing



There is a beautiful Maple in the yard and I put Mason up in it and took his picture... Loving the fall colors...

The picture below is of me off of our bedroom balcony.


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We miss our friends...

But we are getting setteled in just fine....












These photos were edited with my snazzy new toy...




This picture of Miles was taken by my great friend Kacey @ Chronicles of a Mommy... What a beautiful shot of my beautiful boy.
More posts to come soon about how we are doing.

A New Brave Face

Today I feel silly for having such a pity party for myself about moving. I feel like apologizing to everyone who ready my icky post.

There are people in this world with out a roof over their head. There are families who sleep on dirt floors. There are children sleeping in train stations because their families lost their jobs too. So, my selfish party seems so stupid, so unimportant.

I have refocused to a new cause- Being thankful that Curt has a job. Being thankful that we have GREAT renters for our house. Being thankful that we have a somewhere to call home while we re-start things and get ready to build a house (sometime in the future).

Here is my "Thankful List"

God

Curt

Mason

Miles

Health

Curt has a job

I can stay home and raise my boys

Great family to help us

Great friends to help us

Prayers

Mercy

A warm home

A great family member who is letting us invade her house while we get on track- Thanks Mammie.

Do not feel sorry for me when I have pity parties. I am only human, all humans dwell in their own sorrows sometimes. But I will dwell no longer- not over this. God has provided for my family and I will rejoice in him and be glad----- Glad that we are all healthy, safe, live in a free country and have food and shelter....

Today, I am putting on my "new brave face".

Eggs, Eggs, Eggs

I was nursing Miles on the couch the other day and Mason said he wanted a drink. I have his drinks placed in the fridge so he can reach them and bring them to me and I can open them. I said, "you can go and get a juice and bring it to me."



Honestly, I lost track of time because I was watching Dr. OZ. Mason must have been in the kitchen for around 2-3 minutes.

He came in the living room and started talking very fast saying, "eggs, eggs, eggs- Momma... All those eggs got all cracked up... They have baby chicks inside- eggs, eggs, eggs." I will admit that I freaked. How in the heck did he get eggs and what is he talking about????

I walked in the kitchen to find the egg carton opened and all of the eggs from the fridge lined up on the edge of the bar. When I say on the edge, if I would have sneezed some of them would have fallen off. I guess Mason has added scaling the fridge like a rocky cliff to his list of hidden talents.

The good news is that none of the eggs broke on the floor. The bad news is that we lost 4 eggs in trying to get them back into the carton. It seems that Mason's sweet little inquiring mind wanted to know how it feels when you smash one on the counter. Then he loved it so much that he kept on doing it. I could not get them out of his hands fast enough. I was trying to juggle the camera, Miles and get some eggs back into the carton safely...

I hope I can always remember his sweet and funny little stories. Good thing I have scrap books and a blog...

Sad.

I have to be honest. This is my pity party, if you are not interested in hearing any whining, please skip on to the next blog.

I am sad about moving. I feel as if I am just making friends in our neighborhood. Now I am having to start over. Mason has friends that he loves to play with. I have Mom friends that I love to chat with. Curt has friends that he loves to hang with. Mason had a school and teachers that he loved and that I loved. We have doctors we love. We love our church. We fit here.

Apparently God has another plan for our lives, a new track for us to take. I know that Curt lost his job and this job that he has taken is the best for our family. I know that no matter what, we would have had to move. I am at peace with that. I just think it stinks to start over. But we are friendly people, we made the friends we have and we can add to the stack. But that still does not change the fact that I am feeling sorry for myself. Comfort makes everything easier. We are comfortable where we are. Easy was our life. Easy it will be again, as soon as all is settled.

Packing, Packing, Packing....

....really stinks. I hate it actually. But it has to be done. We are getting closer. The end will arrive soon...

I have new updates to share. We are not moving to Atlanta anymore.

We are moving to Crossville, Tennessee.

We are happy! We will have family very close by.

Atlanta would have been fun, but Crossville is the best option for our family.

We are moving 99% of our home on Saturday, the other 1% will stay behind with Curt to finish his last week at work.

I really love Murfreesboro and its location to everything. I am sure I will fall in love with our new town, it might take me a while, but I know I will...